October 2014 - Posts

Vespa has been pumping out new model after new model lately. First it
was all-new Primavera, next we had Sprint, then GTS 250 and 300 Super.
Now we complete the range with the new GTS 300 Super Sport.

The Super Sport has been given the same set of updates as the rest of
the large framed Vespa range. New slide suspension, new analogue-digital
dash and the addition of ABS and Traction Control. The Super Sport will
also be compatible with Vespa's Multimedia Platform.

Pricing has seen a slight increase over the older model, though expected
given the addition of ABS and traction control. Only one colour will be
available in Super Sport, that's the matt black with orange lettering.
Find Vespa Australia's official press release below.

GTS 300 Super Sport represents the pinnacle of the GTS large frame range
with its exclusive matte black paint work, highlighting a more
aggressive approach for Vespa. Performance is again the hallmark for the
Super Sport and the addition of ABS & ASR compliment Super Sports
pedigree to offer the absolute latest in rider support systems. The all
new front ESS or enhanced sliding suspension provides better road
contact on uneven surfaces significantly improving road holding and
rider comfort levels.

The GTS 300 SS FL’s signature front horn cover is redesigned and the
rear tail light is now adorned with an elegant chrome surround. Other
special features include the redesigned saddle with all-new stitching,
characterised by orange-thread finish while the under seat storage area
has been widened to increase capacity. The side decals feature the
popular ‘orange crush’ colour, and the subtle letter "S" on the front
shield indicates Super Sport is something special. Front day time
running LEDS feature in a new indicator design and a handy USB port is
located in the glove compartment. Further innovative features include
the Vespa Multimedia Platform (VMP) compatibility and digital
instrumentation. Available in unique Super Sport Nero Abissio colour
only.

Honda Motorcycles has announced a new deal on selected models in its 500cc range in the lead up to Christmas.

Running from October 13 to December 21, the new campaign offers a saving of $800 on the CB500F and $400 on the CB500X*.

Since their release last year, the LAMS approved motorcycles have wooed the market with a unique combination of performance, handling and styling.

The popular CB500F, one of Australia's top selling naked bikes*, boasts a lightweight 500cc parallel-twin engine, offering high power output across a practical rev range that will appeal to all levels of riders.

The adventure touring CB500X, also a top seller in this category**, is powered by the same 500cc liquid-cooled engine, combined with an upright riding position and large fuel tank to capture a new generation of adventure riders at a competitive price.

Dedicated to providing the utmost rider confidence, the CB500F and CB500X come standard with ABS.

To find out where the CB500F and CB500X could take you this summer, visit your local Honda dealer or http://honda500.com.au/

Dealer Locator Ph: 1 300 1 HONDA

* Based upon Manufacture's Recommend List Price at 1 October 2014.** Based upon September FCAI figures

Close
Motorcycles and Scooterworld are Sydney's newest Honda dealers. Now
selling and servicing Honda Scooters and Motorcycles.

Honda Australia

Scooterworld and Close Motorcycles Now Honda Dealers.

Honda Motorcycles is proud to welcome Sydney-based Close Motorcycles to its Dealer Network.

After first opening its doors in central Sydney in 1999, Close
Motorcycles has earned its stripes as one of Sydney’s leading motorcycle
dealership and service centres.

The new alliance with Honda will make the business the only authorised workshop in the CBD.

Owners Daryl Faddy and Andrew Close share 50 years of experience between
them in the industry. With a strong focus on customer service, Close
Motorcycles has built a reputation as not only the largest, but most
trusted workshop in central Sydney.

The shop’s service manager Drew and Head Technician, Mark, have been
with the business for over a decade and have over 40 years of industry
experience between them.

As well as stocking a huge range of Honda motorcycles and scooters,
Close Motorcycles also offers smash repairs as well as a large array of
accessories and parts.

Whether you're looking to upgrade to a new ride or looking for a
Servicing Centre you can trust, Close Motorcycles is sure to bring you
up to speed every time.

It’s the largest, most powerful and most technologically advanced Vespa ever built and its now landed in Australia.

Pete Gailey

Vespa GTS 300 Super ABS/ASR ESS

Vespa’s high-tech GTS 300 Super featuring new ESS front suspension, ABS brakes and ASR traction control, is now on showroom floors around Australia. For the first time, Vespa's GTS can also be optioned with Vespa's Multimedia Platform that will connect with your Smartphone.

The latest GTS 300 Super is the largest, most powerful and most technologically advanced Vespa ever built. The
278cc single cylinder engine produces a claimed 21.2 horsepower at 7500
rpm, while a peak of 16.4 ft-lb of torque is available at 5250 rpm.
Other updates include a new saddle, re-designed analogue dash, LED
run-lights and USB charging port.

The GTS 300 Super comes in white, black, red(will soon be available) and a gorgeous new blue colour. Available in dealerships now.

See what Piaggio Americas Stefano Sterpone had this to say about the new Vespa model :

The new Vespa GTS represents the most advanced,
technological and high performance evolution of a brand which symbolises
mobility. In every era Vespa has always offered the best of technology
at the service of riding pleasure.

The GTS, thanks to its size and 278 cc engine, provides
power that until a few years ago was unthinkable for the "Vespone". On
one side there is the urban and city vocation and on the other the
touring and travel vocation: the new GTS comes on the market today as
one of the most technologically advanced vehicles in the world thanks to
its extraordinary riding electronics systems.

In addition to the two-channel ABS system, the new Vespa
GTS has the ASR traction control system, a Piaggio Group exclusive,
which significantly contributes to safety, preventing the rear wheel
from slipping in poor grip conditions. In such a technologically
advanced vehicle, integration with Smartphones was a must, and this is a
system that the Piaggio Group is progressively installing on all of its
major models.

The new front suspension and some important aesthetic
touches such as the LED daylight running lights and the new
instrumentation make the new Vespa GTS a vehicle that looks to the
future and which is built to strengthen the positive Vespa trend,
evidenced by a few significant figures:

From 2004 to the present, more than 1.3 million Vespa's
have been sold worldwide and during this decade annual production has
steadily increased to almost 190,000.

Racecourse Motors Sydney now offers a courtesy fleet of scooters to keep you on the move.

Racecourse Motors Randwick

Racecourse Motors Courtesy Fleet

Getting your set of two wheels serviced can sometimes get in the way
of where you need to be, and now, Racecourse Motors solves this by
offering a fleet of Aprilia Courtesy Scooters ready and available for
your convenience.

Ever dropped your scooter or bike off for a service and wondered where
to from here? Again, Racecourse Motors have the solution and now offer a
range of loan vehicles. When making a booking, simply ask if one of the
“Loan Fleet” is available at the time of service.

Racecourse Motors offers a range of service options for your scooter or
motorcycle and they’re conveniently located just outside the Sydney City
CBD. Minor or major servicing, major repairs, smash repairs and same
day tyre replacement. Racecourse Motors also offer a pick up and
delivery service.

Call today on (02) 9314 7700 or simply make a booking through the Racecourse Motors Website.

In addition to the special-edition BMW maxi scooters being released in Australia this year, as reported by Allen last week, BMW Motorrad presented two new special-edition C class maxi scooters at this years Intermot show in Munich.

First the C 600 Sport Special Edition featuring special Racing Blue
Metallic Matt combined with Sapphire Black Metallic paintwork along with
sports seat and Akrapovic silencer.

Next the C 650 GT Special Edition comes with a special paint finish,
Ebony Metallic with Monolith Metallic Matt. The equipment accompanying
this Special Edition comprises the Highline package made up of LED
daytime running light, heated seat for rider and passenger, heated grips
and the RDC tyre pressure monitoring system.

Both these models are bound to arrive in Australia at some point in
2015. More as we have it, until then, see the current 2014/15 BMW Scooter range here.

Suzuki will release a new 113cc commuter in the first quarter of 2015.

Allen Drysdale

Suzuki Australia will be making a concerted effort in 2015 to give
scooter commuters a choice. We’ll be seeing the Burgman 200 hit our
shores before the end of this year and now the announcement that early
next year we will see the arrival of the Address.

The Suzuki Address was launched at the Intermot International Motorcycle
Show. The Address looks to follow a similar path to Honda’s Dio, a
scooter we love here at Scootersales.com.au.

The Address will offer a fairly efficient, fuel injected - 113 cc engine
that should provide consumption figures of somewhere around 50 km/l.
The floor will be flat, provide roomy underseat storage and the seat
height will be a manageable 755 mm’s high. The wheel size will be 14
inch and the Address will weigh in at a measly 97 Kg’s.

You do get the feeling this will be a good one, and if the price is
right, the Address should help establish Suzuki as a major player in the
scooter game. See the Suzuki Australia press release below.

Unveiled at the International Motorcycle Show (Intermot) Cologne on
September 30, the Suzuki Address has been designed specifically as a
low-cost commuter offering excellent fuel economy, spirited city
performance, comfortable riding and a host of convenient utility
features in a modern scooter with youthful and stylish looks.

The 113cm3 fuel injected four-stroke single cylinder engine develops
6.7kW and is perfectly matched with a CVT (automatic) transmission which
gives a riding range close to 250km from the 5.2L fuel tank, meaning
less trips to the bowser.

Under seat storage is a roomy 20.6 litre compartment, while there is the
addition of double helmet hooks on both left and right sides of the
scooter, allowing for helmet stowage and convenience when parked. A
handy front pocket with two drink bottle holders and a bag hook to carry
home shopping are some of the clever features. A large-capacity rear
carrier comes as standard equipment.

Seat height is just 755mm for the rider with ample pillion room. What's
more, the floor board has enough space to easily adjust your foot
position.
Sporty-looking 14 inch aluminium cast wheels with hollow core
architecture add extra strength and help reduce overall weight, as well
as showing off individual distinction. Weighing in wet at just 97kg, the
Address will zip around town or fly across the city. Stopping the
Address is a powerful front disc brake and rear drum brake which can be
locked as a park brake when stationary.

The 2015 Suzuki Address will be on sale in the first quarter of next
year with pricing and colours being announced closer to the arrival.

The FL stands for facelift, but a lot more has changed on Vespa’s GTS 250 than just the front horn cover.

Allen Drysdale and Pete Gailey

Vespa GTS 250 ie FL

Vespa’s GTS 250 is now on sale in Australia and although it has been
given some slight cosmetic revisions around the horn cover region, the
new GTS does receive a couple of far more significant upgrades.

Vespa’s new Slide Suspension(ESS), as seen on Sprint, is also seen here
for the very first time on GTS. The dash has been given a classic
makeover and it’s now similar to what we’ve already seen on Sprint and
Primavera. The front lights now include daytime LED run lights and the
seat has been given a Vespa tag which does makes a nice touch.

The significant change though is the new Slide Suspension and initial
short rides would suggest the GTS 250 is now far more connected and
direct. The front end no longer wavers from its direction and there’s no
longer that sensation of head wobble, often seen as a complaint for
many GTS owners. Dont underestimate this, the effect on handling is
significant.

The rest of the GTS 250 story remains the same. The rear folding rack,
large underseat storage compartment, flat floor convenience and that 250
Quaser engine that can still be regarded as the best on the market.

It’s hard to go past the new GTS 250, Vespa has retained the $7490 plus
on roads price point and the difference in ride quality has been
significantly improved thanks to the new front suspension. The future
does look bright for Vespa.

Colour availability will be Nero(Black), Blu Midnight(Dark Blue) and
Grigio Dolomiti (Light Blue/Grey). All three will come with a light tan
seat.

Pete’s First Ride Impressions

The GTS 250 facelift is the best GTS I’ve ridden so far. Well it was
fresh out of the crate, zero k’s on the clock and very, very new. Pete
from Scooter Central told us we were the first guys in Aus to ride one.
Its got LED parking lights, a new analogue dash, no rpm indicator, but
it’s still got the classic rear rack, and according to the vin number it
was built in Italy.

…but the big thing was how well it handled the road. No headshake,
glided over speed bumps and cornered sharp and smooth. The black GTS250
held the line confidently and had the power to roll the throttle on
through the corner. This was much more self assured than my 2007 GTS
250. It has to be the new Slide Suspension(ESS) on the front wheel. It’s
that good it’ll put a grin on your face. The techie’s at Piaggio have
finally sorted the front end on the GTS. Hoooray!

I’m a bit of a GTS250 fanboy. I reckon they’re the best bang for buck
Vespa in the stable, sure it will get beaten by the 300’s torque but the
250’s still got enough up top to outrun the 300 on the freeway. The GTS
250 will return an efficient and economical 30 km’s to the litre. The
engine is that ultra reliable bullet proof Quasar, it’s plush to ride
and always first away from the lights, the GTS is more than capable on
any road. I’ve always found the GTS 250 good for a real 125 km/h top
speed and it will cruise all day on 110.

Best thing is the new FL model is still $7490 + on roads, and with the new ESS Slide Suspension… it’s the real McCoy.

In Scooterland there are certain iconic scooters. The Vespa GTS250 is an
icon, so good on ya Piaggio for sticking with it. The GTS 250 model is a
classic and this latest incarnation could well be the best yet.